PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a new federal holiday, effective immediately. Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery that occurred on June 19, 1865, and is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983. In support of this historic moment and to stand in solidarity with the city’s diverse communities, the City of Long Beach will observe Juneteenth as an official City-wide holiday on Monday, June 21, 2021. 

“I am thrilled to see Juneteenth finally recognized as a national holiday,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This is a critical moment in our nation’s history as we reflect on our past and move toward a more just and equitable future.”

On June 1, 2021, the Long Beach City Council unanimously supported a motion brought forth by Councilmember Al Austin, Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and Vice Mayor Rex Richardson to draft a resolution calling upon President Biden to make Juneteenth a national holiday. 

“I’m really proud of the historic signing by President Biden to make Junteenth a national holiday and glad for Long Beach to be leading in this moment in history,” said Councilmember Al Austin. “Recognizing Juneteenth as a national holiday is a huge step toward atonement and healing in America.”

In observance of Juneteenth, City of Long Beach facilities and services will adhere to the following schedule.

Open on Monday, June 21, during regular business hours:

• All City-run COVID-19 testing sites, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mobile vaccination clinic at Admiral Kidd Park
• Fire Stations and Lifeguard Stations
• All City parks and trails
• Long Beach Airport
• El Dorado Regional Park (El Dorado Nature Center is closed)
• Marina offices (Alamitos Bay Marina, Shoreline Marina)*
• Main Police Station Front Desk
• Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) summer programs
• Swimming pools
• Refuse and Recycling Collection
• Gas Services Dispatch (562.570.2140) open 24/7 for emergency calls
• Water/Sewer Dispatch (562.570.2390) open 24/7 for emergency calls 
• Building and Safety inspections

Closed on Monday, June 21:

• Joint Information Center (562.570.NEWS), Community Hotline (562.570.INFO), Resource Hotline (562.570.INFO, option 5), Business Hotline (562.570.4BIZ)
• Evening COVID-19 vaccination clinic located at Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus
• Animal Care Services and spcaLA*
• Billie Jean King Main Library, all branch libraries, including LBPL To-Go pickup services and Library offices (digital resources available 24/7); Also closed on Tuesday, June 22
• WorkPlace, Youth Opportunity Center and Pacific Gateway Administrative offices*
• City Hall*
• Citizen Police Complaint Commission
• Building and Safety services, including plan reviews and Permit Center*
• Code Enforcement services, including the COVID-19 Venue Task Force 
• Energy Resources offices
• Fire Headquarters, Support Services, Fire Prevention & Operations, including Marine Safety Administration
• Health Department and Health facilities*
• Housing Authority*
• Long Beach Airport administration offices
• Neighborhood Resource Center*
• Park offices and community park facilities*
• Special Events and Filming
• Street sweeping
• Towing and Lien Sales
• Water Department offices
• Gas, Water and Refuse Call Centers

*Indicates City facilities and services currently operating under modified operations until further notice due to COVID-19 public health restrictions. 

City Hall
City Hall remains closed to the public until further notice except for scheduled appointments for the Permit Center. Residents are encouraged to utilize online services during this time.

Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) Summer Programs
PRM’s various summer programming, camps and activities scheduled to begin on Monday, June 21, will still take place as scheduled.

Street Sweeping
There will be no scheduled street sweeping or enforcement of street sweeping violations on Monday, June 21. Street sweeping will resume its regular schedule on Tuesday, June 22.

Parking Enforcement
Read your parking meter: Parking meters will be enforced on Monday, June 21, unless the meter states "Exempt on Holidays." The days and hours of enforcement are displayed inside the meters.

Refuse/Recycling
Trash and Recycling will be collected as scheduled on Monday, June 21.

Towing and Lien Sales
The Towing Operations & Vehicle Storage Facility, located at 3111 E. Willow St. between Temple Avenue and Redondo Avenue, will be closed on Monday, June 21. Normal business hours are:

• Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Closed Sunday and holidays.

Vehicles and property are available for release outside of the hours listed above for an additional fee. More information can be foundonline.

Libraries
In observance of the Juneteenth holiday, all Library locations and services, including the Library main phone line, will be closed on Tuesday, June 22. Library locations will also be closed to the public on Monday, June 21, as they are every Monday. Library patrons are encouraged to utilize LBPL’s vast collection ofdigital resources, including the Library catalog, downloads, and databases, available 24/7.

The BJK Main Library, Bay Shore, Mark Twain and Michelle Obama Neighborhood Libraries havereopened to the public with limited capacity and select services.LBPL To-Go services remain available at the above reopened LBPL locations as well as at Bret Harte, El Dorado and Los Altos Neighborhood Libraries. Five LBPL locations, Alamitos, Bach, Brewitt, Burnett and Dana Neighborhood Libraries, remain closed to the public with no offered services at this time.

###